Everyone cares about health. From obesity to patient safety, mental health to maternity services, health issues affect us all and are always in the news. If you want to shape those debates from the centre, we want to hear from you.

We’re looking for media experts who are as comfortable briefing the Daily Mail about NHS finances or responding to questions on Twitter about mental health policy as they are delivering a public facing campaign for a new vaccine or helping communicate with the public during outbreaks of flu or other infectious diseases.

The Department of Health Media and Campaigns Team is an award winning operation, recognised for its work on crisis communications, evaluation, insight and partnership working. We are looking for talented press officers to hit the ground running as they advise ministers and mastermind campaigns and digital content for communications on a range of exciting subjects.

A brilliant communicator can make a real difference. Each day will bring new challenges and opportunities to develop your communications skills and this is a great opportunity to develop your career with examples of creativity, campaigning, crisis management and dealing with breaking news stories at the heart of Government.

You will be supported to fast-track your career in a busy, friendly office where learning and development is a key offer and you are able to develop the skills to become a future communications leader.

Advising Ministers and officials on all aspects of presentation, accompanying Ministers to media interviews, visits and events, updating social media accounts and blogs, supporting rebuttal lines and developing new content.

Helping to plan and deliver communications activity to support priority campaigns including developing high quality content for use across a wide range of channels and platforms and ensuring that all activity is evaluated in line with GCS standards.

Maintaining close working relationships with counterparts in other arms-length bodies and other partner organisations, ensuring all communications activity is aligned and jointly planned, as appropriate.

Supporting a 24/7 media service through participation in the out of hours rota.

Key requirements for the role

Strong oral and written communications skills.

Excellent news sense and the ability to communicate effectively with different audiences.

Experience of proactive and reactive communications.

Ability to remain calm under pressure, prioritise workload and deal with competing priorities.

Knowledge and experience of running social media campaigns and creating content.